Opinion on a new pup

[Andy-N]

Hi all,

I currently have a 4 year old springer and a 12 year old jack. Having lived and grown up being surrounded with different dogs, (most of which for protection purposes) we moved into labs about 25 years ago. Like I said, iv now got a springer and jack. We have always had jacks with our labs, but over the years we have thinned down and now are trying a springer.

 

Now.. I'm thinking about getting another dog, and I'd like to go back to a lab because, as people know, springers are highly strung.. Mine is a rescue which has proved a handful and I'd now like a calmer, easier dog.

 

My springer has now settled down over the last 3 years and is very protective of me, in the fact he would never let me associate with other animals, or even small children without getting the **** on or having a good snarl, yet would work ok with other dogs. He is now settled in and knows the score.

 

My question..

 

Would now be a good time to get said lab puppy now the springer has calmed down? I'd like to do it now before he settles down too much as I don't want the puppy to have no one to play with and annoy. I'm worried that if I wait a year or two that the springer will then become aggressive towards a puppy if it irritates him. I'd like them to be able to play and let the springer have a younger companion that he can then learn off and also teach (if that makes sence?)

 

Thanks

 

Andy-N

[scutt]

can't advise about house dogs but i have found that in a kennel/run the dogs sort out the pack order themselfs a pup soon knows its place and behaves its later on that you have to be watchfull thats when the teenager may challenge the top dog then you have to decide which one to back allways feed the one you want to be boss first and allow it to get into kennel or vehicle first etc. what you want is for you to be in charge of the pack by showing you back the boss dog .hope this makes sence good luck

[kent]

Hi all,

I currently have a 4 year old springer and a 12 year old jack. Having lived and grown up being surrounded with different dogs, (most of which for protection purposes) we moved into labs about 25 years ago. Like I said, iv now got a springer and jack. We have always had jacks with our labs, but over the years we have thinned down and now are trying a springer.

 

Now.. I'm thinking about getting another dog, and I'd like to go back to a lab because, as people know, springers are highly strung.. Mine is a rescue which has proved a handful and I'd now like a calmer, easier dog.

 

My springer has now settled down over the last 3 years and is very protective of me, in the fact he would never let me associate with other animals, or even small children without getting the **** on or having a good snarl, yet would work ok with other dogs. He is now settled in and knows the score.

 

My question..

 

Would now be a good time to get said lab puppy now the springer has calmed down? I'd like to do it now before he settles down too much as I don't want the puppy to have no one to play with and annoy. I'm worried that if I wait a year or two that the springer will then become aggressive towards a puppy if it irritates him. I'd like them to be able to play and let the springer have a younger companion that he can then learn off and also teach (if that makes sence?)

 

Thanks

 

Andy-N

 

You seem to have a weird idea about "personal protection dogs" your existing wants work on socialisation, problems like this spread

[Albertan_J]

I would be wary of any dog that snarls at kids so maybe some work on the springer sounds like he thinks he is the boss

[Andy-N]

Sorry, I wasn't very clear with what I was saying. The old protection dogs I was talking about were german shepherds. Ex retired police ones that used to roam the farm yard.

My springer has a had a lot of problems because we were training him for several different things at once. This has now been solved and he now flushes and picks up to a standard I am happy with, but also protects the yard. I couldn't ask any more of him..

 

The question I was really asking is, would now be a good time to get a lab because the springer is still playful, or could I wait another few years or would he be too old?

 

Thanks

 

Andy-N

[tigger]

your springer would be around 6/7 years old before the other is trained so no problem if you waited a few more years either I personally would leave it a couple , one thing I would advise against would be your choice of dog get a working golden retriever much better than any common Lab in all ways IMO

Edited December 29, 2011 by tigger